REVIEW: After 'Who Is Harry Nilsson?', viewers will know what the talk is about (October 25th, 2010 6:33 pm ET)

 10-25-10 Who Is Harry review

REVIEW: After 'Who Is Harry Nilsson?', viewers will know what the talk is about
October 25th, 2010 6:33 pm ET
 

If you've ever been charmed in even a small way by the music of Harry Nilsson, run, don't walk, and pick up the DVD "Who Is Harry Nilsson (and Why Is Everybody Talking About Him?"), which hits the streets Tuesday. It is a fantastic tribute to a man whose music still stands out after all these years. 

Director John Scheinfeld does it perfectly, gathering together all the right people to talk about him. Of course, there's Una, his widow, and Diane, his second wife, and his children. There are freshly filmed interviews with Yoko Ono, the Smothers Brothers, Randy Newman (who Nilsson paid a huge tribute to by doing an entire album of his songs), Van Dyke Parks, Brian Wilson, Micky Dolenz, May Pang, Gerry Beckley, Pythons Eric Idle and Terry Gilliam, Jimmy Webb and Paul Williams, plus there is vintage footage of John Lennon and Ringo Starr. 
 
The memories are wonderful. The Smothers Brothers recall the infamous incident at the Troubadour when Nilsson and John Lennon got tossed out of the club. Micky Dolenz recalls what a partier Nilsson was. Randy Newman and Van Dyke Parks talks about his work as a songwriter. And there's a ton of his glorious music. The DVD also comes with over 90 minutes of bonus features, including extended interviews and deleted scenes.
 
Harry's final years, his campaign for gun control laws after the death of John Lennon and his decline are mentioned, though much more time is spent on his good times rather than the bad. The story ends sadly with his passing, but his music lives on, as will this wonderful documentary that's as charming as the music he left behind. 
 
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